Gunboat diplomacy

The use of military threats by a strong country against a weaker country in order to make that country obey it. (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon")

In 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry led a small squadron of U.S. Navy warships to Tokyo Bay with the goal of establishing relations with Japan.

Perry meant to use force if the nation refused, but the Japanese had already determined to negotiate a treaty, and no shots were fired.

The expedition laid the groundwork for a trade agreement between the United States and Japan. The use or threat of military force to advance foreign policy objectives became known as "gunboat diplomacy"

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